Marshal Philippe Pétain was a French military leader best known for his role during World War I, where he gained fame for his leadership at the Battle of Verdun. He later became the head of the French government during World War II, leading the Vichy regime, which collaborated with Nazi Germany. Pétain's government implemented policies that were often authoritarian and anti-Semitic. After the war, he was tried for treason and sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment due to his age. His legacy remains controversial in France and beyond.